When Is Grandparents’ Day in 2024?
Read on for 2024 details about this September holiday and how you can celebrate with Nana and Pop Pop.
You’ve heard of Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, but have you heard of National Grandparents’ Day? It’s a day to shower grandparents with love, and you're in luck because we've got all the details about this beloved September celebration—plus, ideas for saying “thank you” and “I love you” to some of the most important people in your life.
National Grandparents’ Day has an interesting history.
Michael Goldgar, a retired advertising whiz from New York who settled in Atlanta, Georgia, found a whole new source of inspiration with the arrival of his first grandson. Caught up in the excitement, he helped launch the National Council for the Observance of Grandparents’ Day back in the 1970s. Eager to see this day marked on every calendar, Goldgar turned into a lobbying machine. He zipped to Washington, DC almost 20 times and his relentless efforts made sure that every grandparent gets their well-deserved day in the sun!
While Michael was more of the political face of the campaign, Marian Lucille Herndon McQuade, a West Virginia housewife and super-grandma to 15 grandkids, is often hailed as the real powerhouse behind making Grandparents’ Day a real holiday. Throughout the groovy 1970s, McQuade was on a mission to shine a spotlight on the invaluable contributions of senior citizens, and she was all about encouraging folks to tap into the wisdom older generations have to offer. More than just pushing for a day of recognition, she passionately promoted the idea of “adopting” a grandparent. But her vision was bigger than just a single day of celebration or exchanging gifts; she was advocating for forging lifelong bonds filled with rich experiences and shared stories. Marian was truly a trailblazer in celebrating the timeless bond between generations!
As then President Jimmy Carter put it, “because [grandparents] are usually free to love and guide and befriend the young without having to take daily responsibility for them, they can often reach out past pride and fear of failure and close the space between generations.”
Congress finally passed legislation declaring Grandparents’ Day an official national holiday on August 3, 1978. Rumor has it that Marian McQuade received a phone call from the White House delivering the news and on September 5, 1978, Goldgar and McQuade visited NBC's Today Show in New York to celebrate the creation of this special holiday. A presidential proclamation issued by Jimmy Carter on September 6, 1979, made this day official, designating Sunday, September 9, 1979, (being the “first Sunday of September following Labor Day”) as National Grandparents’ Day.
In 2024, Labor Day is Monday, September 2, so Grandparents’ day is on Sunday, September 8.
In the United States, Grandparents' Day is observed on the first Sunday following Labor Day. Typically, this places it on the second Sunday of September. However, since Labor Day always occurs on a Monday, there are instances when Grandparents' Day lands on the first Sunday of September. In contrast, the celebration dates for Grandparents' Day vary in other countries, each choosing different times of the year to honor grandparents.
Annually, it is customary for the President to be asked to issue a proclamation that accomplishes two things: first, to officially designate the first Sunday in September following Labor Day as National Grandparents’ Day; and second, to encourage individuals, groups, and organizations to commemorate the day through suitable ceremonies and activities.
Did you know National Grandparents’ Day has its very own anthem? That's right! The tune "A Song for Grandma and Grandpa" by Johnny Prill is the official jam for celebrating your beloved grands. And what's the official flower for the day? It's the charming forget-me-not—perfect for making sure Grandma and Grandpa know they're always in your thoughts!
Here are some heartfelt quotes to include in your card or use as captions in a photo book that are guaranteed to touch their hearts!
“Something magical happens when parents turn into grandparents.”
“Parents know a lot, but grandparents know everything.”
“Everyone needs to have access both to grandparents and grandchildren in order to be a full human being.” —Margaret Mead
“Love is the greatest gift one generation can leave another.” —Richard Garnett
“Some of our greatest blessings call us 'grandma' and 'grandpa.'”
“Grandparents are like stars. You don’t always see them, but you know they’re there.”
“Grandparents hold our hands for just a little while, but our hearts forever.”
“Grandparents can be very special resources. Just being close to them reassures a child, without words, about change and continuity, about what went before and what will come after.” —Fred Rogers
“Grandmas and grandpas are grand-angels.” —Terri Guillemets
“Grandparents are a treasure in the family. Please, take care of your grandparents: love them and let them talk to your children!” —Pope Francis
“Grandfathers are just antique little boys.”
“A grandparent is a little bit parent, a little bit teacher, and a little bit best friend.”
“If Mom says no, ask Grandma. If Grandma says no… Who are we kidding? Grandma never says no.”
"Grandparents are, without a doubt, some of the world’s best educators." —Charles W. Shedd
“On the seventh day God rested. His grandchildren must have been out of town.” —Gene Perret
“Grandmas never run out of hugs or cookies.”
“The smart, kind, beautiful child… must have got it from their grandparents.”
“Grandparents are the best kind of grownups.”
“Truth be told, being a grandma is as close as we ever get to perfection. The ultimate warm sticky bun with plump raisins and nuts. Clouds nine, 10, and 11.” —Bryna Nelson Paston
“The best parents get promoted to grandparents.”
"Grandparents are the perfect blend of love, laughter, and happy memories."
If you’re looking for thoughtful, unique and still affordable gift ideas for grandparents that have everything, you’ve come to the right place. Keep reading for one-of-a-kind gifts that come from the heart, won’t break the bank, and don’t involve dried macaroni crafts.
Turn your favorite pictures of the grandkids into beautiful wall art for gma and gpa with personalized canvas prints. Create a gallery of your favorite moments throughout the years for a sentimental present that they can enjoy year-round.
It’s called “classic” for a reason! This option is simple and never goes out of style. Simply grab 30 pics of the grandkids and grams and gramps, upload them on the app and voila—a gift they’ll cherish forever for under $20!
If you have a subscription to either Monthbooks, softcover or hardcover, or Monthly Minis, it’s easy to gift a duplicate subscription for grandparents so they automatically get a copy of the photo books you make every month.
If Pop Pop and Glamma want to document their golden years—along with pics of their grandkids, of course—you can also gift them their very own subscription! Choose between 3 months, 6 months, or 12 months gifting options.
So there you have it! The lowdown on Grandparent’s Day so you can be prepared to celebrate Nana and Pop Pop in 2024 with gifts that are easy, inexpensive but still sentimental. Whether they cry from being so touched or laugh hysterically when they open your card and gift (depending on which quote you go with), you’ll feel good about giving them the love and appreciation they deserve.
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